The Spanish Colonies

Chapter 4 Lesson 1

Pages 148 - 152

Overview

Explorers sent

Would claim the land they set foot on for hundreds of miles

Once they began to explore – no one left behind to protect their claim

Competition

Land claimed by several countries – no one paid attention to others claims

Spain had claimed land, but quickly learned claiming land is different from controlling land.

They needed to protect from other European countries and Native Americans

Spanish Colonies

Spain the first to start colonies to protect land and govern people

NEW SPAIN – formed 1535 – Most land in Mexico (capital was Mexico City)

Also included islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Spanish lands north of what is today Panama

http://panama.america-atlas.com/pictures/panama-map.jpg

http://caribbean-direct.com/home%20page%20images/CaribbeanMapCarte.jpg

Spanish Forts built to protect claims

Slavery in the Americas

As gold & silver found – more Europeans came to settle in the colonies

Others came to start large farms called PLANTATIONS

To the south of New Spain – Portugal formed the colony of Brazil

http://eorr.home.netcom.com/EMO/images/map_brazil.gif

WHY?

Spain & Portugal needed workers:Crops

Mine gold & silver

Forced Native Americans

Many died from hunger & disease

BARTOLOME de LAS CASAS

Landowner later became Priest

Upset how slaves were treated

He freed his slaves

Then spent his year speaking against slavery

Shortage of Slaves

As thousands of Native Americans dies more slaves needed

Colonists captured Africans

Most taken to Brazil or the Caribbean

Areas of land on or near the borders between countries, colonies, or regions

Goal with Borderlands

Protect the Spanish empire

Spanish king chose leaders to govern settlements

Colonists did not have any say over their leaders

Missionaries sent by king to convert Native Americans to Christianity

St. Augustine

Spanish built the FIRST permanent European settlement in the U.S.

Located at St. Augustine, Florida

Forts

Religious settlements

Santa Fe

1610 – Spanish missionaries helped settle Santa Fe

Santa Fe – capital of the New Mexico Colony

El Camino Real

“The Royal Road

Connected settlements to Mexico City

Missions built all along the road.

Life in the Borderlands

At first – some Native Americans chose to stay at the missions.

Some were forced to work on the farms and ranches

They fought back – tearing down churches and other buildings

LARGE HOMES OR ESTATES

HORSES

Had been extinct in the Americas

Brought back and it helped change Native American lives

Hunted

War

SUMMARY

In the 1500’s, explorers often paid no attention to other countries claims to lands

Spain tried to hold on to its claims by setting up colonies

Spanish needed workers, so they enslaved Native Americans and Africans